Kanye West Shanghai Concert Sparks Refund Chants After Erratic Performance

Fans in Shanghai expressed frustration and chanted for refunds after Kanye West’s late arrival and unpredictable show.

Kanye West’s Troubled Return to the Stage in Shanghai

Kanye West made his return to live performance after nearly a year with a concert at Shanghai Stadium on July 12, drawing a massive crowd of 70,000 fans. However, the evening did not go as planned. Despite the excitement surrounding his comeback show, Kanye arrived over 40 minutes late, prompting many in the crowd to start chanting for refunds during the wait.

The concert at Shanghai Stadium attracted thousands but faced numerous setbacks.

Performance Marred by Delays and Technical Problems

When Kanye finally took the stage, technical glitches plagued the show. The DJ had to restart several songs amid ongoing difficulties. Compounding the issues was rainy weather, which may have further impacted the performance quality. Fans also noted the minimalist staging — with sparse lighting and production design — and some complained about poor sound quality.

The concert quickly became a hot topic on Chinese social media, with users lambasting the event’s organization. One attendee remarked, “I have never seen such a poorly organised concert.”

Fans and Social Media React: Disappointment Echoes Loudly

Social media was flooded with reactions from disappointed fans. One Twitter user shared:

“So I’ve been a fan of Kanye West since I was a teen. MBDTF opened my ears to the sonics in music. Was hard to get tix for him in Shanghai but got it. Was hyped af. Couldn’t even sleep night before. But. Worst concert I’ve ever been to. @kanyewest u can be better.”
— Fabian_Lemuel

Another post humorously noted the strict timing rules in China:

“The REAL 夜上海 finally showed up 40 minutes late to his show in SHANGHAI ⏰. For those familiar with the strict rules in CHINA, this time WILL not be added back. They will cut his show precisely according to schedule 🎬.”
— SHOWTYME

Amid the frustration, the crowd’s chants for refunds echoed loudly:

“Shanghai consumers DO NOT PLAY. Massive crowd was shouting REFUND after Ye was late 40 minutes to his concert.”
— SHOWTYME

Fans also captured moments from the show, including Kanye’s rendition of “Bound 2” and an altered lyric from his controversial song, demonstrating the mixed but tense atmosphere.

Kanye’s Struggles with Live Performances and Controversies

This erratic performance reflects ongoing challenges Kanye West has faced securing live bookings over the past few years. Since 2023, his gigs have been limited mostly to China and South Korea. A scheduled appearance at a Slovakian festival was recently canceled after thousands signed a petition citing Kanye’s public behavior and controversial symbolism.

The petition emphasized that Kanye’s actions and symbols were linked to some of the darkest periods in modern history and declared that hosting him would be “an insult to historic memory.”

Recent Controversies Surrounding Kanye West

Kanye West’s controversies have intensified over the past year:

• On May 8, marking the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat, he released a song titled ‘Heil Hitler.’
• Earlier in the year, he faced a lawsuit for discrimination and accusations of sending a “Hail Hitler” text to a Jewish employee at Yeezy.
• Australia revoked his visa, barring him from entering due to his controversial song and statements.
• His Yeezy online store was stripped down to just one item: a white t-shirt emblazoned with a large swastika.
• Kanye has also made several antisemitic comments during interviews with far-right commentators.

These controversies have tainted his public image and complicated his ability to perform globally.

What’s Next for Kanye West?

It remains to be seen how Kanye will navigate his live performances and public relations moving forward. His Shanghai concert highlighted both the loyalty of his fanbase and the growing frustrations with his recent behavior and show quality.

Conclusion

Is this the beginning of the end for Kanye’s concert career, or will he find a way to reclaim his stage presence and fix the issues that leave fans disappointed? Only time will tell.

FAQs

• Why did Kanye West’s Shanghai concert face criticism?
  Kanye arrived late, had technical issues, minimal production, and poor sound quality, leading to fans chanting for refunds.
• How many people attended the Shanghai concert?
  Approximately 70,000 fans attended the show at Shanghai Stadium.
• Has Kanye faced issues with live performances before?
  Yes, Kanye has struggled with bookings and controversies, mostly performing in China and South Korea since 2023.
• What controversies have affected Kanye’s career recently?
  He released a controversial song titled ‘Heil Hitler,’ faced discrimination lawsuits, and was banned from Australia, among other incidents.
• Was the scheduled Slovakian festival appearance canceled? Why?
  Yes, a petition citing his association with Nazi symbolism and dangerous public attitudes led to the cancellation.

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